After dropping Game 1, Erie (28-8-1) stormed back tying Game 2 at 5-5. The Cardinals gained the lead on a Keith hitting error and from there took the momentum. The points continued to go back and forth, but the Cardinals eventually prevailed to win the game and force a third.

“We start off slow,” Erie coach Alicia Murphy said. “That’s how we been this season.”

Murphy said she was pleased her team got back into the game, but in the end Keith proved to be too tough.

“We came in wanting to play our game and that is what got us this far,” she said.

Lambert’s service aces was particularly key in Games 1 and 3 for Keith. The Cougars had five service errors in Game 2, compared to one in Games 1 and 3.

“I wanted to do what I could to help give our team momentum,” Lambert said.